Playing Catch-up!

One of my New years Resolutions is to be more on time with my blogs and more frequent in my journaling. But , until then...





Here's a few pics from the vault. I will try to post a lot this next week and hopefully do a brief overview of the last year with the girls and such. These ones are recent and i will work my way backwards for a bit (or not) we will see.


So here's some more pics from the past month. Brandon and i played Mary and Joseph and Aria was baby Jesus at our ward party. She was NOT a still, silent night- baby Jesus. She was a Hallelujah Chorus Baby Jesus until i let her suckle on my finger. It went well other than that. A lady said to me that Aria was just saying her lines (rather singing them). All in all it was fun. We took our neighbor kids with us and they did pretty good considering the circumstances.

Christmas Pictures!

Hey fans! Here's the pics of the girls i took a couple weeks ago. Christmas went great and i'll post about it again soon, when i get back home. Also, i have a webcam now so if you have an AIM account you can webcam me. I have the same profile/username as this account. It's been fun doing the webcam with my sister, Cristiana. We were able to read stories to each other with our kids, and see everything that was going on in each other's houses. I love it! More later!

Old Turkey!

So yeah, i'm playing catch up with some pics. we had a great Thanksgiving with Brandon's parents and the Fairbanks family, all of which we love. Brielle especially love Talmage!!! He's slightly older than her but it's all innocent. They almost look related. We had great food and the day went well and it just flew by.





Now there's only 22 days till Christmas. It's nuts! It's finally cold here in LV. It's like 34 at night and 50-65 in the daytime. I love carrying Aria around in my slings with a little Beanie on her head(pics of that later). I love getting sweaters out and scarves and things of that sort. I love the smell of wood burning stoves and cinnamon spices too. I am going to craft and bake all week and finish my shopping and projects and just have fun. My goal is to be done by the end of the week with ALL gifts and things for everyone. Let's see if i can do it. Well, in choir were singing the song Somewhere in My Memory, and i love the lines...Precious Moments, Special people, happy faces i can see. Living in my memory, all of the music, all of the magic , all of the family , home here with me. That's what Christmastime is all about! Brielle is getting the santa stuff and is understand the Baby Jesus story and whe you ask her what is Santa going to bring her she says(of course) Toys! I asked her what kind os toys? and she replies with her hands brought to her chest"Bring Bee-L toys!" That's how she says her name. It's stinkin' cute. She loves the chocolate advent calendar and she calls Chocolate- CLOCKLIT! She likes to move her princess rocking chair over to the counter to get treats and when i move them she gets upset but gets over it fast. I'm glad she recently got to put up a tree with Gma Betty b/c i don't know if we will do that at my mom's or if she's already got it done. Well, if you read this let me know some traditions your family does for the holidays. The only ones i have so far is making a gingerbread house, getting an new ornament every year and the gift opening and Christmas story on the eve. We also try to buy presents for a family every year. we did it last year and it was so awesome. Loves to you all!

NOT Decking the Halls this Year!

Hey everyone, So this year we will be going up to Fallon for Christmas and about 6 weeks ago i started fiddling with the idea of not decorating the house, since were not going to be here for Christmas anyways. If any of you have seen how i decorate, you would know that this is a big deal for me. i usually have ThRee TrEEs up in my house, the tallest which is 12 ft. I have swags of garland and lights and ornaments hanging from beautiful ribbons on my drapery rods and it goes on and on. So, as i started toying with this idea, i kept thinking about better things i could do with my time. I thought about the best things i could do and decided that i am going to focus on spending that time making memories with my family and friends, serving others, and making gifts with my hands-with real love put into them. (now, don't think that i don't care for you if you get a store bought item-silly). So, i'm making some jewelry for my girls and sewing them pink taffeta skirts and hairbows and for my friends an nieghbors i will make some white chocolate popcorn! Now, i'm not saying that peopel who go crazy decorating are bad or commercial or anything, i love seeing nice displays, i'm just letting you all know that I'm not decking out my halls b/c i'd rather not clean it up when i get home(last years decorations didn't come down until February b/c i was nauseas with Aria in my belly)!
And this year i just want to focus on my family, service, and what this Holiday really is all about! I am so Thankful that we all have Brother who was willing to be born into the world only live and die for our every sin and sorrow. I truly, don't know where i'd be today without my Savior, Jesus Christ and Our Father in Heaven. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Pumpkin Streusel!!!

This alternative to regular pumpkin pie is awesome! My mother-in-law, Betty gave me the recipe and it was a hit at Aria's Shower. Many people asked for it so here it is.

1 lg. can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (combo of cinn, nutmeg, clove etc...)
1 can of evaporated milk (check your expiration on your milk i blew the first batch by dumping expired milk on my ingredients)

Mix with beaters and pour into a 9X13 baking dish (not metal)

In another bowl, take
1 white/yellow or Fr. Vanilla cake mix
1 cube of softened butter

and crumble together with a fork. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the pumpkin mixture and bake at 350 for 1 hour or until the knife comes clean.(my oven runs hot so it only took 45 mins.) Let cool before serving and top with whipped cream or serve with vanilla ice cream too. It's Delicious!

Flashback! Aria's Day

Hey peeps, So, since i'm not perfect and i can't always do things on time, i will be posting flashbacks to catch you up or just to give you a glance to the past, My friend does these on fridays which i will try to do, but it probably won't always work that way for me. So here's some pics from Aria's blessing and of my haircut too!

Things you should NOT DO! (from my own experience)

Or should a least think hard about before you decide to proceed...

bribe your kid to be quiet with candy

leave dirty diapers where the dogs can reach them

Put breakables in your childs room ( or any room for that matter)

hug someone from behind only to find out, it's not your friend it's a stranger

let your bread rise only once before cooking

Call your siblings the day after they had their birthday and wish them a happy birthday

keep your dog's food outside for the nieghborhood pigeons and crows to eat(crap all over my backyard)

hot glue your finger to a hairbow and clip

make fresh lemonade with papercuts on your hands

put diaper rash cream on your toothbrush and proceed to brush your teeth

get a brazilian wax 4 weeks after you had a baby

show up at the airport a week before the computer says your supposed to fly out

let eggs boil...overnight!

leave your make-up out with a toddler around

leave waffles in the iron for over 3 hours

Crazy eights

Man, this made me think a little.
Thanks, Traci, i need to really be grateful for what i have.

1. 8....Passionate about
my husband
my girls
performing arts
making the world beautiful(or just my world)
Building strong relations with the people i love
Finding people to serve
anything sweet and fruity
making my home a place everyone feels safe and welcome

2.8...do before i die
watch my kids grow up and succeed
finish my family temple work
move to Colorado and live out my days without 114 degree temps.
Visit anywhere tropical with my husband
make yearbooks of my family as they grow
adopt a couple more kids who need loving arms
Leave a legacy for my future generations
rekindle with my lost friends

3.8..i say often
No, you cannot have candy for Breakfast!
do you know why i put you in time out?
put it back, now!
Stop playing with the water spout/toilet/dog water!
I love you, sugars!
I love you, Honey!(for Brandon)
Come here, NOW!
What is it that you want? Say it, don't just point and say THIS!

4. 8 ... i have read lately
Scriptures
Pottery Barn catalog( i don't know why)
Snuggle Puppy i Love you
Curious George's ABC book
My old journals
Conference talks
What to expect the first years(repeat)
Betty Crocker's cookbook

5.8... I could listen to over and over again
Brielle saying i love you, mommy!
My husband giving me a compliment
any and all uplifting/fun music
Aria and Brielle's laughs and coos and giggles
Pure silence accompanied by a few birds singing
rustling leaves in the wind or rain falling
Brielle blowing kisses( she makes the pucker noise really well)
my friends voices when it's been too long since i've talked with them last

6.8.that attract me to my best friends
they are all so unique
they accept me the way i am, flaws and all
they tell me the truth even if it hurts a little
they are all talented
they are all beautiful( I mean it too) I don't have any ugly friends:)
they've been with me when i needed it most and given me space when i needed it too.
they are easy to converse with even when it's been years (or months)
they live earnest lives

7.8... i have learned this year
get make-up out of the carpet
nurse Aria
trust in my body (birthing)
to make a pouch sling
save money and budget (thanks Cachay:)
Slow down at times and speed up at others
to be a better cook
blog

8. 4 peeps who haven't done this...
Rachel F.
Meghan J.
Jenny C.
Sarah S.

What a DAY we're having!!!

So Yesterday morning the stunt pulling started early. i was nursing Aria and watching Finding Nemo when Brandon took Brielle upstairs for a bit. He came back down stairs a few mins. later but i didn't hear Brielle following behind him. five mins. go by and i ask him where Brielle is and he replies" she's playing upstairs" Well, that wasn't quite accurate. This is what she was doing...


She is crying b/c Brandon was dressed for work and wouldn't give her a hug in his nice clothes. So, she was bawling! She took a huge chunk of Bronzer, eyeliner and mascara and lipgloss to her little face and hands. This was just the start of our day. I wasn't even mad at her but, all i kept thinking about was my last comment to Traci L. about how i am looking forward to this day, NOT! Man, it came too soon. Maybe Lynnie rubbed off On Brielle via the internet, i don't know.
By the end of the day Brielle had pulled small tiles off one of our deco balls in the Living room, pulled out fake fruit out of the china cabinet and began ripping it apart, broke a candle holder, skipped her nap, cried five times and kept asking for milk or candy all day long. She was a handful to say the least. On top of that Aria waited to take her big nap until almost 5 o' clock. So, i practically got nothing done. (It was one of those days Hayley talked about in She's driving me crazy)

Now the good parts of our day. Brielle taught herself how to do a sommersault. Aria ( at age 3 months and 1 week) amazingly learned to roll over already! She did it about 7 times and i recorded it so, i'll try to figure out how to put it on our blog. And we got to visit with new parents Tori and Matt and baby Kaleb. Dinner was delicious and when 8 rolled around the kids went off to bed, i went to the gym while Brandon folded laundry and all was at peace in my world again. I have a great husband and wonderful girls and although times are crazy, i wouldn't trade them for the world.

here's Brielle being her cuter self.

Aria's Blessing!

So, Aria was blessed last Sunday at our house. We also spoke in church that day and i sang Abide With Me , Tis Eventide. So, we blessed her at home after church so all of our friends could make it. It went well and Aria didn't make a peep. She is in my old blessing dress and my mom and i took some time getting it all back in shape. First, i bleached the 3 separate layers- that didn't work, then, I oxycleaned it for 6 hours and that worked wonderfully. It made the dress about 4 shade lighter than before and now it looks like a light winter white instead of yellow. Then i laundered it, hemmed it and mom carefully ironed it. This dress was first my sister, cristiana's blessing dress, then mine and now Aria's(28 yrs. old). Brielle's dress was given to us by her birthmom. Too see her's archive Brielle's Sealing Day. Both are pretty dresses and i'll post more pics of the blessing when i have time and get some photos off Grandma's camera. Ones with me in them finally. Aria is three months now and is doing great. Brielle loves to kiss and hug her heeps still but she seems to think if she holds Aria's hand , baby Aria will help her get up and down from the furniture. Luckily, i've been around and Brielle realizes Aria is just not much help that way. It was great to have both my mom and dad there along with Todd and Uncle Brian and many friends. We love you all and the people who couldn't make it, we love you too!

Happy Halloween!

Hey everyone! So, here's the pics of Brielle and Aria. Brielle loved being Bo Peep and if you ask her what she was for Halloween she will say"PEEPEE"! I rolled the first time she said that b/c we were at the park with a bunch of moms. Aria liked being her sheep and slept in her costume both at the trunk or treat and around our nieghborhood the next night. We didn't get as many trick or treaters as we did last year and now were stuck with TONS of candy! Plus the stuff Brielle collected. So, if you ever have a sugar craving after your candy is all gone, come on over! All in all it was a fun Halloween!

Halloween Flashbacks!!!

These pumpkins we carved a few years ago with our friends, the Lee's, The Chandler's, The Babcocks, and some other peeps. Oh, how time flies. It was three years ago. Our current pumpkin pics will come tomorrow.

So, our girls costumes this year are soooo fun. But you have to wait to see them b/c i'm taking thier pics tonight before the trunk-or-treat for our ward. But here's a few flashbacks of Halloween's past. This is Brielle from last year. She's so little in this pic. I love it! Her friend, India got to borrow her tutu this year and when she saw her in it, She was kind of ready to rip it off her, but she didn't. She was a good girl.

Myla was our first girl outfitted for Halloween! She hated it but was good at waiting for a treat!
Happy tricking and treating!

Smile Baby!

Aria has cheeks for days and i love kissing them. I'll post another pic later where she not so squished up. She's almost 3 months. Man, time races on! i love it and i hate it.

Flower girl!

A few weeks ago Brielle was the flowergirl for her birthmothers wedding. She was a hit walking down the aisle and halfway there she throws five handfuls of petals in one spot and then walks the rest of the way down throwing none. It was a nice, quick ceremony and Aria decided to have a poopie during it so, Brandon was out in the hall with her and Brielle was visiting everyone and playing in Aria's carseat. It was pure chaos but everyone was so helpful and gracious during the reception. Brielle's such a fun and lively toddler and lately we've been surprised in the mornings or after her nap to walk in her room and find her naked!!! What's up w/ that she is 21 months old. She not supposed to be a stripper! I hope this is a short phase!

What's our deal!

I'm going to write a list of things you shouldn't do. It will come out very soon, i hope. Here's a pic of one thing you shouldn't do...leave batter in the waffle iron for over 3 hours!!! Yep, i'm forgetful. Last night i even forgot that i had eggs boiling until they exploded in the pan. I was asleep on the couch at that time. Man, this list is going to give you some crazy insight about my life.


I said goodbye to my long locks again. I did this in 2004 and donated it and i'm doing it all over again. I'll post a pic with my new hair . I like the cut too! It's a nice change of pace!



Brielle got her first shiner! She bumped her head on a nice piece of flagstone by our pool. She's such a trooper and i think it frightened me more than it did her.



So, on Sept. 24th Aria hit 2 months old. She's such a sweet baby and is already smiling and letting me sleep about 6 hours through the night. I had a baby b-day party for all my friends who recently had babies and i took pics of some beautiful babies. here's how Aria's 2 month pics turned out.

The Message...

I read this book and just finished it. It's called the Message by Lance Richardson. It's about his journeys beyond the veil and back while he was in a coma. I loved it and truly felt uplifted by reading the gospel truths in it's pages. You aren't going to learning any new doctrine or anything from this book but it will reaffirm what you already believe and truly change your way of thinking about what is truly important on this earth. It's a quick fun, spiritual, touching read. You can find it at any church bookstore and it's about 150 pages or so. Without giving too much away, my favorite part was when Jozet feels Lance's spirit beside her in her car on the way to the mall. We do have loved ones in our families that help us each day from the Spirit world.Truly, it is Real!

Long overdue Thanks!!!

So, i have been thinking about all the people in my life whom i need to thank for helping me these past few months. First, i want to thank Brandon, my awesome hubby, for picking up the slack around the house, helping Brielle each morning and night and just still loving me after what pregnancy does to the body. Thanks to Melyna for all the free massages and presents for Brielle and for just being available and dinners. Thanks to Miki for watching Brielle, visiting and all the advice about nursing. Thanks to my in-laws and mother for helping with Brielle and my house and meals and sewing and such, i could keep going on and on about you two women- you are lifesavers. Thanks to my midwives Jill and MArvi for making it such an excellent and special and somewhat funny birthing experience. You will always be remembered. Thanks to all the friends and family who bought diapers and pitched in for our handy double stroller. Thanks to Tirza and Tiffany for the maternity clothes. I hope the next person can get good use out of them. Thanks to Hayley and Alisha for the true advice and friendship they have given me since we were kids. Thanks to Kathi B. for watching my babes when i got mastitis. Thanks to my neighbor Susan for watching Brielle and for visiting and just being you. Thanks to the Nielson family and Dr. Jason for the quick meds for Aria when i needed it. Your family is so amazing and we love you all heeps. Thanks for all my pregnant friends~Cashay, you made this time of my life so enjoyable and i'm so glad we reconnected when we did. You are so special to me, lady! All of my friends who put up with my mixing up of dates, thank you for bearing with me. Thanks to Crystal for your old stuff and for the reality talks of what having two kids would be like. Thanks to my sister Cristiana, for having twins and making it look easy for me. You are such a good example and trooper through it all. I'm so very lucky and blessed to have such great family and friends and i know that God put you all in my life so i could learn from you great things and be uplifted. and if i forgot anyone, i apologize. Love to you all forever!~Corrine

more beach pics!

The Beach!

We spent most of our time at La Jolla and then some time at Mission. Overall the waves were great except for one day when they were so strong the waves literally knocked me over and i did a front handspring under water. It was a little freaky! In all my years I've never had that happen to me. Brielle obviously loved the beach and sand and running from the waves. It was so fun to see her light up about something i love so much. Aria did great too! I kept her in the shade and she napped so well it amazed me. Pictured is cousin Rylie and Brielle and the other is of my brothers Todd and Brent and my dad, Danny. Brent is buried up to his knees. He dung pretty far down to get stuck like that. I only wish i would have taken pics of the beach trip with my friend Ivy and her boys. She has 4 1/2 yr. old twins and a 2 yr. old and is pregnant with her first girl(hopefully and most likely). I had so much fun with them, my aunt Diane, my step mom, Mary and cool people that i met on the beach. I can't wait till next summer to go again!

Our trip to San Diego!

We had a lovely time staying with my Aunt Diane and with my dad too! We went to the beach with both of them and with my friend Ivy and her 3 sons too! It was about a total of 5 days that we hit the sand and surf and we all got a little tan(expect for Aria). The pics i'll post first are of Brielle at the water conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College and then another of Brielle looking like movie star with her shades on. The temps. in SD were no relief from LV most of the time. It hit 108 where we were staying. But i did have 2 days when it was about 95 dgrees. Yes, that was a relief from the Vegas heat. (that's truly pathetic, i know) Anywho, my family reunion was over Labor day and i will be posting pics from that too. So get ready-here they come...

Aria at one Month!

So, i know this is really late b/c Aria is now 7 weeks old but here they are anyway.I bought these dresses for them when i was about 6 months pregnant. I love matching and coordinating thier outfits. The day pictured was the first day Aria and Brielle went to church with us. Before then it was one or the other. They did pretty good that day! Well, more to come soon.

10 days old!

WOW! Time has gone by fast and i'm sure it will continue to whiz by. Aria is adjusting well to the world and in our family. Brielle loves saying her baby sisters' name and pretending to feed her with the play bottles that Melyna got her. I don't think Brielle quite gets the fact that she's not a toy b/c yesterday she asked for her when i was nursing her like this" aria, please" and she put her hands out expecting to get her and put her in her toy stroller. Silly girl! The last few days we had some family visit (Mom,Todd,Brian & Terri) and it was really nice to see them all. I was pretty sad when my mom left back home b/c we won't see her for another month. I look at the pics of my mom holding Aria and i can only imagine what she must have felt when she had each one of her babies. Now, we are all (almost) having our babies. Time really does just go tooo fast! I don't want to even think of my girls growing up!

More Pics of the Peanut!

So, everything is going well over here. Recovery is almost harder than labor itself. Okay, i take that back but, it is very uncomfortable. I'm healing well and didn't need any stitches (Thank Heavens!!!). Aria is getting the hang of nursing and she slept really well last night only waking up 2 times to eat. Today she had her check up and all well with her too. Yesterday, i had to get the Rhogam shot b/c I'm A- and Aria is O+ blood types. The hospital trip took 3 hours for one tiny shot but it was necessary for me and my blood. The nurse at the hospital was a scottish woman and was super sweet and she told me of her past as a midwife in canada and London and such. She commended me on having my baby at home and said it's pretty normal in most european countries to have babies at home or in a birth center. Well, here's a few pics of our girls and some sweet friends...Melyna and Avery. Thanks for the great massage, Melyna. I'm such a lucky lady to have friends like her!

Being cuddled!

Daddy loves holding his newest daughter! It's been so great to have Brandon be part of her birth as he held me for the last 35 mins. of labor. When she came out he said"she looks like an Aria to me!" as we were deciding between Layla and Aria for her name. Brielle saw the baby as she awoke this morning and wanted to put the pacifier in her mouth the whole time. She is still trying to figure it all out. Brandon loves having two awesome daughters! I was excited when she was born and sore and i thought that she looked good for being all smashed up and stuff. I know her looks will change over the next while. As for her personality, she cries louder than Brielle did and is definately a little diva. She has a great set of vocal cords and great breath support as she can do the whole holding the breath before she cries arrangement. I shouldn't be shocked- she takes after her mom's loud mouth:)

BABY ARIA HAS ARRIVED!

Aria Elizabeth Christian was born Tuesday, July 24th at 10:24 pm. She weighs 7lbs. 2 oz. and is 19 inches long. And my midwives say that she really wasn't all that late, in fact she was on time. I was just off in my calendar by 1 1/2 weeks or so. She still seems so surreal to me and i can't believe i pushed her out of my body just yesterday. She came after 5 hours of labor and 35 mins of pushing. All in all it was a great natural birth at home. I am so grateful for this beautiful blessing in our lives and that God made me a women. I now know what birthing a child is all about.

About Brandon

Brandon and i have been married for 5 years as of July 5th. Brandon is more than i could have hoped for as a husband, friend, businessman, father, and mate. He owns a mortgage company called Entitlement Lending and other investment companies. Brandon loves to workout, play with Brielle, watch UFC, plays tennis and other sports too. He is a busy man but makes time for us to go on dates, walks, and he helps clean around the yard and the house too. I love serving him and being the wife and mother of our family. I say to people that He is my reward for making through my crazy childhood years.
More on Brandon later...